Forgiveness from the cross

Series: The Cross Speaks Message 1 of 7 — The First Saying of Jesus Text: 📖 Luke 23:34

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Introduction

We are beginning a journey through the last sayings of Jesus on the cross—the final words spoken by the Son of God before His death. Each week from now until Easter we will look at one statement each Sunday. These are not random statements. They are intentional, theological, redemptive, and revelatory.

The first word Jesus speaks from the cross is not judgment. Not anger. Not condemnation. Not revenge.

It is a prayer.

“Father, forgive them.”

The cross opens not with wrath — but with grace. Not with vengeance — but with mercy. Not with justice — but with forgiveness.

Before the blood has dried… Before the crowd disperses… Before the nails are removed… Before the darkness falls…

Jesus prays for His enemies.

Big Idea

The first statement from the cross reveals the first priority of heaven: forgiveness.

Point 1 — Forgiveness Was Chosen, Not Forced

“Father, forgive them…”

This is not a reflex reaction — it is a deliberate decision.

Jesus is not speaking from comfort — He is speaking from agony. He is not surrounded by friends — He is surrounded by executioners. He is not receiving mercy — He is receiving violence.

Yet He chooses forgiveness.

Truth:

Forgiveness is not emotional — it is volitional. Forgiveness is not feeling-based — it is obedience-based.

Illustration:

Corrie ten Boom once spoke about meeting a former Nazi guard after the war — a man who had brutalized prisoners in the camps. He asked her for forgiveness. She said her emotions screamed “No,” but her faith said “Yes.” Forgiveness was not natural — it was supernatural.

Forgiveness is never natural. It is always spiritual.

Application:

You don’t forgive because they deserve it — You forgive because Christ gave it to you.

Point 2 — Forgiveness Flows from Spiritual Vision

“...for they know not what they do.”

Jesus doesn’t excuse their sin — He explains their blindness.

He sees:

Roman soldiers as spiritually blind

Religious leaders as spiritually deceived

Isa 29:13

 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,    ESV

Matt 15:14

14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”    ESV

The crowd as spiritually manipulated

They are responsible — but they are also lost.

Truth:

You can’t hate what you truly see as broken. You can’t despise what you understand as blind. You can’t hold bitterness when you recognize bondage.

Illustration:

A child who breaks something in a store doesn’t understand the value — but the parent does. Ignorance doesn’t remove responsibility, but it changes the response.

Jesus doesn’t minimize sin — He magnifies mercy.

Application:

The more spiritually mature you become, the more merciful you become.

Maturity doesn’t produce hardness — it produces compassion.

Point 3 — Forgiveness Is the First Message of the Cross

This is not the last saying — it is the first saying.

Before salvation is offered to the thief Before care is given to His mother Before substitution is declared Before suffering is expressed Before redemption is finished Before surrender is spoken

Forgiveness is released.

Truth:

The cross begins with forgiveness because forgiveness is the door to everything else.

No forgiveness → No salvation No forgiveness → No reconciliation No forgiveness → No redemption No forgiveness → No relationship with God

The first word from the cross sets the tone for the entire gospel.

Illustration:

Like the opening chord of a symphony — it defines the entire composition. Everything that follows flows from the first note.

The first note of redemption is forgiveness.

Gospel Connection

Jesus is not just preaching forgiveness — He is purchasing it.

He doesn’t just say “forgive” — He bleeds forgiveness.

The prayer is answered by the cross itself.

Invitation / Response

Some of you need to receive forgiveness. Some of you need to release forgiveness. Some of you are chained to bitterness. Some of you are stuck in resentment. Some of you are carrying anger Jesus already died to free you from.

You cannot carry what Jesus came to crucify.

Closing Declaration

The cross does not begin with condemnation. The cross begins with compassion. The cross does not open with judgment. The cross opens with grace. The cross does not speak revenge. The cross speaks redemption.

“Father, forgive them.”

Series Tie-In

This is the first word — because forgiveness is the foundation of salvation.

Everything else flows from this: Forgiveness → Salvation → Compassion → Substitution → Suffering → Redemption → Surrender